scholarly journals Effectiveness and safety of Bifidobacterium and berberine in human hyperglycemia and their regulatory effect on the gut microbiota: a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, parallel-controlled study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Ming ◽  
Xinwen Yu ◽  
Xiaoqiang Xu ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Chao Ding ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Berberine and Bifidobacterium have been reported to improve glucose tolerance in people with hyperglycemia or other metabolic disorders. This study aimed to assess the hypoglycemic effect and the regulation of the gut microbiota caused by berberine and Bifidobacterium and the possible additive benefits of their combination. Methods This was an 18-week, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled study of patients newly diagnosed with hyperglycemia. After a 2-week run-in period, 300 participants were randomly assigned to the following four groups for 16 weeks of treatment: berberine (Be), Bifidobacterium (Bi), berberine and Bifidobacterium (BB), and placebo group. The primary efficacy endpoint was the absolute value of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) compared with baseline after 16 weeks of treatment. Results Between October 2015 and April 2018, a total of 297 participants were included in the primary analysis. Significant reductions of FPG were observed in the Be and BB groups compared with the placebo group, with a least square (LS) mean difference of − 0.50, 95% CI [− 0.85, − 0.15] mmol/L, and − 0.55, 95% CI [− 0.91, − 0.20] mmol/L, respectively. The Be and BB groups also showed significant reductions in 2-h postprandial plasma glucose. A pronounced decrease in HbA1c occurred in the BB group compared to the placebo group. Moreover, compared with the Bi and placebo groups, the Be and BB groups had more changes in the gut microbiota from the baseline. Conclusions Berberine could regulate the structure and function of the human gut microbiota, and Bifidobacterium has the potential to enhance the hypoglycemic effect of berberine. These findings provide new insights into the hypoglycemic potential of berberine and Bifidobacterium. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03330184. Retrospectively registered on 18 October 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banin Maghfirotin Marta ◽  
Utami Tyas ◽  
Cahyanto Muhammad Nur ◽  
Widada Jaka ◽  
Rahayu Endang Sutriswati

Consumption of probiotics is known to influence the gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of probiotic powder containing Lactobacillus plantarum Dad-13 on bacterial composition in the gut by examining fecal samples of school-age children in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 40 healthy subjects were recruited for this study and were divided into two groups: placebo group and probiotic group. The placebo group consumed skim milk and the probiotic group consumed probiotic powder containing L. plantarum Dad-13 (2 × 109 CFU/g) for 65 days. The results showed that placebo intake had no significant effect on gut microbiota; however, probiotic caused a significant increase in L. plantarum and Lactobacillus population, while decreasing the population of E. coli and non-E. coli coliform bacteria by 55% and 75%, respectively and Bifidobacteria count did not change significantly. The study concluded that consumption of probiotic powder L. plantarum Dad-13 could increase propionic acid thereby decreasing the gut pH which has an effect on the microbial population.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.S.-Y. Lau ◽  
N. Yanagisawa ◽  
Y.-Y. Hor ◽  
L.-C. Lew ◽  
J.-S. Ong ◽  
...  

This 10-months randomised, double-blind, parallel and placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 on diarrhoea and/or upper respiratory illnesses in 520 healthy Malaysian pre-school children aged 2-6 years old. The subjects randomly received a one-gram sachet containing either BB536 (5×109 cfu) or placebo daily. Data analysis was performed on 219 subjects who fully complied over 10-months (placebo n=110, BB536 n=109). While BB536 did not exert significant effects against diarrhoea in children, Poisson regression with generalised estimating equations model indicated significant intergroup difference in the mean number of times of respiratory illnesses over 10 months. The duration of sore throat was reduced by 46% (P=0.018), with marginal reduction for duration of fever (reduced by 27%, P=0.084), runny nose (reduced by 15%, P=0.087) and cough (reduced by 16%, P=0.087) as compared to the placebo. Principal coordinate analysis at genus level of the gut microbiota revealed significant differences between 0 and 10 months in the BB536 group (P<0.01) but not in placebo group (P>0.05). The abundance of the genus Faecalibacterium which is associated with anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory properties was significantly higher in the BB536 group (P<0.05) compared to the placebo group. Altogether, our present study illustrated the potential protective effects of BB536 against upper respiratory illnesses in pre-school Malaysian children, with gut microbiota modulating properties.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Yang ◽  
Yue Yue ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Mengfan Ding ◽  
Bowen Li ◽  
...  

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea and functional diarrhea are both functional bowel disorders that cause chronic diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea is closely related to daily life and the psychological condition of diarrhea in patients, and probiotics can play a significant role in alleviating chronic diarrhea in some research. Lactobaccilus plantarum CCFM1143 can relieve diarrhea in mice caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC); however, its clinical effects remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of CCFM1143 as a therapy for chronic diarrhea patients. Fifty-five patients with chronic diarrhea were randomly assigned into the probiotic group (n = 28) and the placebo group (n = 27), receiving the routine regimen with or without probiotics for 4 weeks, respectively. CCFM1143 can mitigate the apparent clinical symptoms and improve the health status and quality of life of patients. In addition, it could inhibit the increase in interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the decrease in motilin; modulate the short-chain fatty acids, especially acetic and propionic acids; and regulate the gut microbiota, particularly reducing the abundance of Bacteroides and Eggerthella and enriching the abundance of Akkermansia, Anaerostipes, and Terrisporobacter. In addition, treatment with probiotics showed clinical effectiveness in managing chronic diarrhea when compared with the placebo group. The findings could help to develop and further the application of probiotics for chronic diarrhea.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawei Chen ◽  
Yanwei Yin ◽  
Jin Shi ◽  
Fen Yang ◽  
Kehua Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: DL-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) was demonstrated to increase the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the animal models, but there are no clinic studies to verify this. We aimed to explore the effect of NBP on improving cerebral hypoperfusion caused by cerebral large-vessel stenosis. Methods: In this single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 120 patients with severe carotid atherosclerotic stenosis and cerebral hypoperfusion in the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) were included and randomly assigned into NBP or placebo group as 1:1 radio. Patients in NBP or placebo group received 200mg or 20mg of NBP capsules three times daily for four weeks respectively. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to assess regional CBF (rCBF) in four regions of interest (ROIs) corresponding to MCA before and 12 weeks after the treatment. After therapy, the rCBF change for every ROI and the whole CBF change in MCA territory for every patient were classified into amelioration, stabilization and deterioration respectively. Results: 48 NBP patients (6 with bilateral stenosis) and 46 placebo patients (8 with bilateral stenosis) completed the trial. Overall, both groups had 54 stenotic carotid arteries and 216 ROIs for rCBF change analysis. After therapy, the rCBF in ROIs increased in NBP group (83.5%±11.4% vs. 85.8%±12.5%, p=0.000), whereas no change was found in placebo group (86.9%±11.6% vs. 87.8%±11.7%, p=0.331). Besides, there was higher percentages of ROIs with rCBF amelioration and stabilization in NBP group than in placebo group (93.1% vs. 79.2%, p=0.000). Furthermore, ordinal regression analysis showed that compared with placebo, NBP independently made more patients to have whole CBF amelioration in ipsilateral MCA (Wald-χ2=5.247, OR=3.31, p=0.022). Conclusions: NBP might improve the cerebral hypoperfusion in the patients with carotid artery atherosclerotic stenosis. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900028005, registered December 8th 2019- Retrospectively registered ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx ).


Author(s):  
Victor Ifeanyichukwu Modekwe ◽  
Jideofor Okechukwu Ugwu ◽  
Okechukwu Hyginus Ekwunife ◽  
Andrew Nwankwo Osuigwe ◽  
Jideofor Chukwuma Orakwe ◽  
...  

Introduction: Procedural analgesia use in neonatal circumcision is not widespread in the developing world. An easy-to-administer, adequate and safe analgesia will encourage usage in neonatal circumcision. Orally administered ketamine may prove effective and safe, and may encourage procedural analgesia use in neonatal circumcision. Aim: To determine the analgesic efficacy of oral ketamine in Plastibell® neonatal circumcision. Materials and Methods: A hospital based randomised double blind controlled study was conducted at the paediatric surgery unit of the hospital, from March 2015 to December 2015. Total 121 neonates were sequentially recruited, and randomised into two groups. Group A received oral ketamine, and Group B received plain syrup (placebo) as procedural analgesia. Continuous pulse oximeter monitoring was done before, during and immediately after the procedure. The pre-procedural and intra-procedural peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and Pulse Rate (PR) were determined at the various stages. Also, the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) scores were assessed during the stages of the procedure. Differences in mean scores were analysed. Mann-Whitney U test and Independent t-test were used to compare means of continuous variable, while Fisher’s exact test was used to compare categorical variables. Significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Sixty-one neonates received oral ketamine, while 60 received placebo. The intraoperative mean SpO2 were lower in the placebo group and significant at the tying stage with p=0.022. The mean intraoperative PR was higher in the placebo group and significant at dorsal-slit, tying and excision stages (p<0.05). The mean intraoperative NIPS scores were significantly higher in the placebo group. Conclusion: Oral ketamine provides effective and safe analgesia for neonatal Plastibell® circumcision in comparison to placebo.


Gut ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 2107-2115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofie Ingdam Halkjær ◽  
Alice Højer Christensen ◽  
Bobby Zhao Sheng Lo ◽  
Patrick Denis Browne ◽  
Stig Günther ◽  
...  

ObjectiveIBS is associated with an intestinal dysbiosis and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been hypothesised to have a positive effect in patients with IBS. We performed a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial to investigate if FMT resulted in an altered gut microbiota and improvement in clinical outcome in patients with IBS.DesignWe performed this study in 52 adult patients with moderate-to-severe IBS. At the screening visit, clinical history and symptoms were assessed and faecal samples were collected. Patients were randomised to FMT or placebo capsules for 12 days and followed for 6 months. Study visits were performed at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months, where patients were asked to register their symptoms using the IBS-severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) and IBS-specific quality of life (IBS-QoL). Prior to each visit, faecal samples were collected.ResultsA significant difference in improvement in IBS-SSS score was observed 3 months after treatment (p=0.012) favouring placebo. This was similar for IBS-QoL data after 3 months (p=0.003) favouring placebo. Patients receiving FMT capsules had an increase in faecal microbial biodiversity while placebos did not.ConclusionIn this randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled study, we found that FMT changed gut microbiota in patients with IBS. But patients in the placebo group experienced greater symptom relief compared with the FMT group after 3 months. Altering the gut microbiota is not enough to obtain clinical improvement in IBS. However, different study designs and larger studies are required to examine the role of FMT in IBS.Trial registration numberNCT02788071.


2021 ◽  
pp. 2001798
Author(s):  
Peter Schenk ◽  
Alexander O. Spiel ◽  
Felix Hüttinger ◽  
Micheline Gmeiner ◽  
Josefine Fugger ◽  
...  

Several studies have shown that statins have beneficial effects in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) regarding lung function decline, rates and severity of exacerbations, hospitalisation and need for mechanical ventilation.We performed a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled single-center trial of simvastatin at a daily dose of 40 mg versus placebo in patients with Global Initiative for COPD criteria II-IV at a tertiary care pulmonology department in Austria. Scheduled treatment duration was 12 months and main outcome parameter was time to first exacerbation.Overall 209 patients were enrolled. In the 105 patients taking simvastatin, time to first exacerbation was significantly longer compared to the 104 patients taking placebo: median 341 versus 140 days, log-rank test p<0.001. Hazard ratio for risk of first exacerbation for the simvastatin group was 0.51 (95% CI 0.34–0.75; p=0.001). Rate of exacerbations was significantly lower with simvastatin: 103 (41%) versus 147 (59%), p=0.003. The annualised exacerbation rate was 1.45 per patient-year in the simvastatin group and 1.9 in the placebo group (IRR 0.77, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.99).We found no effect on quality of life, lung function, 6-minute walk test and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. More patients dropped out in the simvastatin group compared to the placebo group (39 versus 29).In our single-center RCT, simvastatin at a dose of 40 mg daily significantly prolonged time to first COPD exacerbation and reduced exacerbation rate.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 726
Author(s):  
Ogawa ◽  
Shobako ◽  
Fukuhara ◽  
Satoh ◽  
Kobayashi ◽  
...  

The anti-hypertensive effect of processed rice bran (PRB) was recently reported, for which the novel peptide Leu-Arg-Ala (LRA) was identified as the functional substance. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-hypertensive effects of a rice bran supplement containing PRB in individuals with high-normal blood pressure (systolic blood pressure (SBP): 130–139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP): 85–89 mmHg) or grade 1 hypertension (SBP: 140–159 mmHg and/or DBP: 90–99 mmHg). One hundred individuals with high-normal blood pressure or grade 1 hypertension were recruited to participate in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Participants were randomly allocated to the placebo group (n = 50) or the test group (n = 50). Each group took four test tablets (43 μg LRA/day) or four placebo tablets daily. The decrease in blood pressure in the test group compared with the placebo group was the primary outcome. Adverse events were recorded and hematological/urinary parameters measured to determine the safety of the supplement, which was the secondary outcome. In total, 87 participants completed the study. The SBP of the test group at 12 weeks was significantly lower than that of the placebo group (p = 0.0497). No serious adverse events were observed. Daily consumption of a rice bran supplement containing PRB can safely improve mildly elevated blood pressure.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3794
Author(s):  
Yu Hwa Park ◽  
Do Hoon Kim ◽  
Jung Suk Lee ◽  
Hyun Il Jeong ◽  
Kye Wan Lee ◽  
...  

This study sought to investigate the antihyperuricemia efficacy and safety of DKB114 (a mixture of Chrysanthemum indicum Linn flower extract and Cinnamomum cassia extract) to evaluate its potential as a dietary supplement ingredient. This clinical trial was a randomized, 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 80 subjects (40 subjects with an intake of DKB114 and 40 subjects with that of placebo) who had asymptomatic hyperuricemia (7.0–9.0 mg/dL with serum uric acid) was randomly assigned. No significant difference between the DKB114 and placebo groups was observed in the amount of uric acid in serum after six weeks of intake. However, after 12 weeks of intake, the uric acid level in serum of subjects in the DKB114 group decreased by 0.58 ± 0.86 mg/dL and was 7.37 ± 0.92 mg/dL, whereas that in the placebo group decreased by 0.02 ± 0.93 mg/dL and was 7.67 ± 0.89 mg/dL, a significant difference (p = 0.0229). In the analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) change, after 12 weeks of administration, the DKB114 group showed an increase of 0.05 ± 0.27 mg/dL (p = 0.3187), while the placebo group showed an increase of 0.10 ± 0.21 mg/dL (p = 0.0324), a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0443). In the analysis of amount of change in apoprotein B, after 12 weeks of administration, the DKB114 group decreased by 4.75 ± 16.69 mg/dL (p = 0.1175), and the placebo group increased by 3.13 ± 12.64 mg/dL (p = 0.2187), a statistically significant difference between the administration groups (p = 0.0189). In the clinical pathology test, vital signs and weight measurement, and electrocardiogram test conducted for safety evaluation, no clinically significant difference was found between the ingestion groups, confirming the safety of DKB114. Therefore, it may have potential as a treatment for hyperuricemia and gout. We suggest that DKB114 as a beneficial and safe food ingredient for individuals with high serum uric acid. Trial registration (CRIS.NIH. go. Kr): KCT0002840.


2001 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abouch V. Krymchantowski ◽  
Jackeline S. Barbosa ◽  
Celia Cheim ◽  
Luiz A. Alves

Several oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective to treat migraine attacks. Lysine clonixinate (LC) is a NSAID derived from nicotinic acid that has proven to be effective in various pain syndromes such as renal colic and muscular pain. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral LC compared to placebo in the acute treatment of migraine. Sixty four patients with the diagnosis of migraine, according to the IHS criteria, were studied prospectively. Patients received LC or placebo once the headache reached moderate or severe intensity for 6 consecutive attacks. With regard to the moderate attacks, LC was superior than placebo after 1, 2 and 4 hours. The consumption of other rescue medications after 4 hours was significantly higher in the placebo group. With regard to the severe attacks, there was no difference between the active drug group and the placebo group concerning headache intensity and consumption of other rescue medications. We conclude that the NSAID lysine clonixinate is effective in treating moderately severe migraine attacks. It is not superior than placebo in treating severe migraine attacks.


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